Chapter 1 practice test

A woman presents to a women's health clinic stating that she has had a positive home pregnancy test and desires prenatal care. You would conduct a(n): A. complete history. B. focused history. C. problem-oriented history. D. interim history.

A

Interviewers should identify and assess their own feelings, such as hostility and prejudice, in order to: A. avoid inappropriate behavior. B. explain their biases to patients. C. express personal idiosyncrasies. D. promote self-awareness.

A

Mr. Jerry Spenser, a 26-year-old homosexual man, is having a health history taken. Which question regarding sexual activity would most likely hamper trust between Jerry and the interviewer? A. "Are you married or do you have a girlfriend?" B. "Tell me about your living situation." C. "Are you sexually active?" D. "Are your partners men, women, or both?"

A

Mr. Sandstrom has come for his routine appointment for his hypertension. He is not experiencing medication side effects or other health problems. Which of the following questions is most appropriate to ask when you begin the interview? A. "How have you been doing since your last visit?" B. "Have you been taking your medications?" C. "What brings you to the office today?" D. "How are you doing with your hypertension?"

A

When taking a patient's history, you are asked questions about your personal life. What is the best response to facilitate the interview process? A. Answer briefly and then refocus on the patient's history. B. Give as much detail as possible about the asked information. C. Ignore the question and continue with the patient's history. D. Tell the patient that it is inappropriate to answer personal questions.

A

Which behavior is least likely to facilitate an interview with a patient who is dissembling? A. Allow the topic to be changed. B. State "I noticed that you changed the topic." C. Use gentle questioning to help the patient explore the topic. D. Return to the topic at later time in the interview.

A

Which interviewer action is least appropriate when a patient engages in excessive flattery? A. Respond warmly and intimately. B. Remain calm, firm, and direct. C. Recognize that flattery can be manipulative. D. Ignore the patient's behavior.

A

A 26-year-old woman presenting for a preemployment physical is found to have bruising on her back and buttocks. What would be your best immediate response? A. Ask, "Would you care to tell me about these bruises on your back and buttocks?" B. Say, "I see bruises. How did you get them?" C. Ask, "Do you feel safe in your current relationships?" D. Say, "I am required by the law to document these bruises, so I am asking your permission to take a picture of them."

B

A mother runs into the emergency department with her 6-year-old son. She says that her son fell 15 feet from a tree. The child is screaming and has an open fracture of the left forearm. You would conduct a(n): A. complete history. B. focused history. C. problem-oriented history. D. interim history.

B

Because an adolescent is often reluctant to talk during an interview, it is best to: A. tell the patient that you must have straight answers to your questions. B. ensure confidentiality regarding the information discussed. C. inform the patient that adolescents have trouble expressing their feelings. D. obtain the history from a parent or other family member.

B

During an interview, a patient admits to feeling worthless and having a sleep disturbance for the last 3 weeks. These clues warrant exploring the possibility of: A. altered cognition. B. suicidal ideation or plan. C. substance abuse. D. panic attacks.

B

During an interview, the patient describes problems associated with an illness and begins to cry. The best action in this situation is to: A. stop the interview and reschedule for another time. B. allow the patient to cry, then resume when the patient is ready. C. change the topic to something less upsetting. D. continue the interview while the patient cries in order to get through it quickly.

B

When questioning a patient regarding a sensitive issue such as drug use, it is best to: A. begin by describing the effects of drug abuse on health. B. be direct, firm, and to the point. C. explain that only health care workers will share the information.

B

Which of the following information is particular to a pediatric history? A. Family history B. Developmental history C. Social history D. Past medical history

B

Which statement best describes the chief complaint? A. General health and illness B. The reason the individual is seeking care C. Information to make the diagnosis D. Concerns about confidentiality and trust

B

You are responding to a patient who has behaved toward you in a seductive manner. Which of the following is most appropriate? A. Respond in a manner that acknowledges that the patient is embarrassed. B. Remain calm, firm, and direct regarding the professional nature of the relationship. C. Be courteous. D. Ignore the patient's behavior.

B

A 45-year-old patient presents with a complaint of anxiety related to his wife's criticism of his drinking. During the history you ask several of the CAGE model questions and the patient tells you that he wants to cut down on his drinking. Which conclusion would you draw about this patient? A. He is an alcoholic. B. His drinking is caused by anxiety. C. He may be an alcohol abuser. D. He should be examined for symptoms of withdrawal.

C

A conversation with a parent concerning a 5-year-old child: A. violates the child's need for privacy. B. is inappropriate because the child is able to talk with you. C. provides significant information about family dynamics. D. causes distrust in the child toward the examiner.

C

During an initial interview with your patient, you ask the patient, "Can you describe that for me?" Which statement best describes the question? A. It is the most risky type of question because the patient can say anything. B. The question is asking for specific information. C. The patient has discretion about the extent of the answer. D. The answer can lead the interviewer away from the purpose of the interview. Incorrect

C

Long periods of silence during an interview may indicate: A. a need for the health care provider to increase the pace of the interview. B. an inability of the patient to communicate. C. a reluctance of the patient to verbalize information. D. a need to terminate the interview because of the decreased attention of the patient.

C

Ms. Carol Turner, a 38-year-old woman, brings her 1-year-old son in for health care. Which of the following requests made would be most appropriate at the beginning of an interview? A. "Mom, please place your son in your lap." B. "Carol, please place your son in your lap." C. "Ms. Turner, please place your son in your lap." D. "Sweetie, please place your son in your lap."

C

Older adults with impaired visual perception and light-dark adaptation generally do better: A. with written interviews. B. in dimly lit interview rooms. C. in a well-illuminated environment. D. with a light source that reflects in their eyes.

C

Some older adults may have sensory losses that make communication more difficult. Some degree of hearing loss is common in older adults. One action that tends to worsen hearing or communication problems is: A. positioning yourself so the patient is looking at your face. B. speaking clearly and slowly . C. using a high-pitched voice. D. avoiding noisy interviewing rooms.

C

Which of the following will best facilitate an interview with a deaf person? A. Speaking loudly B. Using gestures C. Sitting or standing at eye level D. Sitting to the side of the patient

C

A patient with diabetes comes into the medical clinic, stating that he has noticed a sore on his foot for the last week. You note that his last visit was 2 months ago. You would conduct a(n): A. complete history. B. focused history. C. problem-oriented history. D. interim history.

D

During an interview, a patient describes abdominal pain that often awakens him at night. Which of the following responses by the interviewer would facilitate the interviewing process? A. "Constipation can cause abdominal pain." B. "Do you need a sleeping medication?" C. "Pain is always worse at night, isn't it?" D. "Tell me what you mean by 'often.'"

D

For which age group is a functional assessment most critical? A. Children B. Adolescents C. Adults D. Older adults

D

J.F. shares with you that he has an uncle and a brother with sickle cell disease. Where would this information best be documented? A. Chief complaint B. Medical history C. Social history D. Family history

D

When you repeat a patient's answer, you are: A. testing the patient's knowledge. B. teaching the patient new medical terms. C. discouraging an emotional outburst. D. encouraging more detail.

D

Which interviewer behavior would least contribute to decreasing tension in an anxious patient? A. Avoid information overload. B. Slow the conversation. C. Maintain a calm demeanor. D. Finish the interview promptly.

D

Which of the following behaviors is most important in establishing a connection with the patient? A. Documenting data from the history using direct patient quotes B. Phrasing questions so that they are clear and explicit C. Avoiding the trap of giving advice during an interview D. Listening intently while observing nonverbal cues

D

Which of the following questions may lead to an inaccurate response? A. "Where do you feel the pain?" B. "How does this situation make you feel?" C. "What happened after you noticed your injury?" D. "That was a horrible experience, wasn't it?"

D

While interviewing an angry patient, you start to become annoyed and are beginning to dislike the patient. The best way to resolve this is to: A. spend the least amount of time possible with the patient. B. displace your annoyance toward the patient on an inanimate object. C. ignore the feelings and remain neutral in your interactions. D. express concern and explore the problem with the patient.

D